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Point of purchase displays are only as reliable as the pallets supporting them. Splinters, protruding nails, inconsistent performance, or pallets that don’t move cleanly through conveyors can lead to damaged product, wasted labor, and missed retail opportunities. At Litco, Bob Caldwell helps customers prevent those issues using Litco Engineered Molded Wood™ pallets and other practical packaging solutions.
Since joining Litco nine years ago, Bob has served as a trusted advisor to companies that rely on point of purchase displays to perform under real-world conditions. He works closely with customers to understand how their displays are built, shipped, handled, and stocked – then helps design solutions that reduce damage, improve efficiency, and minimize total system cost. Bob supports manufacturers and retailers who rely on point of purchase displays to perform consistently from the production line to the retail floor.
Bob brings a strong sense of urgency to every project, knowing unresolved display issues affect production schedules and retail execution. At the same time, he is detail-oriented and researches each application so solutions work in practice, not just on paper.
Case Study 1: Reducing Shipping Damage in Retail Point of Purchase Displays
Wonderful® Pistachios was experiencing shipping damage to their point of purchase displays. The recycled wooden pallets they were using were prone to loose nails and splinters, creating issues in both warehouse handling and on retail floors. In addition, the recycled wood pallets didn’t always provide the support needed during shipping, allowing displays to shift during transit, increasing damage and rework.
Bob worked with Wonderful’s engineering, packaging, and operations teams over several years. Together, they tested multiple display and pressed wood pallet configurations to evaluate how each option would perform in real-world conditions.
Wonderful® team members evaluated Litco pallets for durability, labor impact, and scalability, with particular attention to how pressed wood pallets could be integrated into Wonderful’s existing point of purchase display systems.
Because Wonderful’s corrugated displays were intentionally designed to lock into the deck boards of traditional wood pallets, simply replacing them wasn’t enough. Bob worked with Wonderful® and Litco’s engineering team to test several ways of adapting the existing design to Litco’s pressed wood pallets.
When those approaches fell short, the team developed a hot-glue process that used the flat deck of Litco’s pressed wood pallets to create a stronger, more reliable bond between the display and pallet. The solution was a huge success. The stronger bond between the display and the flat deck of Litco’s pressed wood pallets kept the displays securely attached throughout the entire shipping and handling process.
The results were measurable. Display damage dropped significantly, warehouse handling improved, and retailers received nail-free displays that protected finished floors from scratches, dents, and gouges.
Testing a new approach. During product testing at Wonderful Pistachios, a team member attempts to separate the base of the point of purchase display from Litco’s pressed wood pallet. The hot-glue process suggested by Bob and other Litco team members created a strong bond that kept displays secure and intact throughout shipping, dramatically reducing damage.
Case Study 2: Lowering Cost and Improving Safety in Export Transport
Not only does Bob thrive as a point of purchase displays specialist, but he also excels with other challenges thrown in his direction – including those related to transporting livestock.
A poultry exporter contacted Bob, looking for a more cost-effective way to cushion large trays used to transport live turkeys. Their existing process relied on hand-cutting insulation and placing it beneath the crates – an approach that was expensive, inconsistent, and created safety and cleanup concerns.
Bob reviewed their operation, researched alternatives, and partnered with Litco’s manufacturing team to test perforated sheets of corrugated pads that could be quickly separated into strips and placed beneath the crates.. This solution delivered consistent padding, eliminated the need to hand-cut materials, improved worker safety, and reduced overall cost.
The result was a cleaner, safer, and more efficient process. As the solution proved successful, it gained visibility at shipping ports and attracted attention from other exporters facing similar challenges.
Experience from the Receiving Side of Retail Operations
Before joining Litco, Bob spent 11 years at Target, working in sales, team training, and as a logistics freight manager.
In that role, he managed inbound freight and warehouse flow – seeing firsthand how poorly designed pallets and displays can create delays, safety risks, and damage at the store level. Having worked with point of purchase displays from both the manufacturing and retail sides of the supply chain, Bob understands how upstream decisions impact downstream performance.
That experience shapes Bob’s philosophy today. He believes the best solutions come from research and hands-on testing. He enjoys working with customers to review applications and provide samples. He believes businesses need real-world experience with Litco products to determine what will serve them best.
Life Beyond Litco
Outside of work, Bob is a devoted father to his eleven-year-old daughter, Addison. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, follows Ohio sports closely, and shoots pool weekly in a local league.
See How Litco Can Help
If your point of purchase displays are being damaged during shipping – or you’re facing other packaging and shipping challenges – Bob is ready to help. He takes a thoughtful, hands-on approach to every application and is happy to provide samples so your team can evaluate solutions in your own operation.
Contact Bob to discuss your operational needs, request samples, and identify practical next steps for improving shipping operations.
More on Litco’s Pressed Wood Pallets:
Want to learn why manufacturers are choosing pressed wood pallets for their point of purchase displays? Explore six key benefits – from improved durability and floor safety to greater warehouse and transportation efficiency.
6 Clear Benefits of Point of Purchase Displays for Pressed Wood Pallets ->
